Exiled by his pack as a teen, Omega wolf Simon Moorehead learns to bury his gentle nature in the interest of survival. When a hulking, rough-faced Alpha catches Simon on pack territory, he tries to escape what he’s sure will be imminent death. But instead of killing him, the Alpha takes Simon home.

A man of action, Mitch Grant uproots his life to support his brother in leading the Blue Mountain pack. Mitch lives on the periphery, quietly protecting everyone, but always alone. A mate is a dream come true for Mitch, and he won’t let little things like Simon’s rejections, attacks, and insults get in their way. With patience, seduction, and genuine care, Mitch will ride out the storm while Simon slays his own ghosts and Mitch’s loneliness.

Review

Mitch Grant is a silent leader, allowing his twin brother, Frederick, to lead the Blue Mountain Pack while he sits on the outskirts as dominating protector of all those who are part of the pack. Mitch is content with his position as enforcer, isolating himself from the others, never quite actively participating in the events of the pack because he prefers to be alone. But that doesn’t mean Mitch isn’t lonely; he may be an alpha but he longs to find his mate and share his life with the man who is destined to be by his side.

Simon Morehead may be an Omega, but he wants nothing to do with the characteristics that being an Omega requires. He would rather be strong and dominant instead of sensitive and nurturing. His life has required him to wear a thick skin and never back down. At the age of 12, he was banished from his pack for being different – they show no use for a gay Omega wolf, so for the past 13 years, he hasn’t belonged to a pack, and he’s learned to never back down, rejecting his true nature as a means of survival. It’s easy to understand why Simon doesn’t trust Mitch and refuses to believe that Mitch wants to help him when they first meet. Regardless of the mate bond that they instantly share, Simon doesn’t let his guard down because he won’t allow another wolf to use him against his will.

Mitch has his work cut out for him when it comes to helping Simon recognize the bond they share and how their relationship is destined to be regardless of how much Simon fights it. Mitch finally has his mate – the man who he knows will make his life complete, and he’ll stop at nothing to ensure that Simon remains by his side and understands that he’s finally where he belongs.

I love Cardeno C’s stories. They are a great mixture of sweet and sexy, and Blue Mountain definitely fits into that category. Mitch is an incredibly patient alpha when it comes to Simon, and as the trust grows between them, readers understand how much they both benefit from their newfound connection. Blue Mountain definitely has a slow burn feeling to it, which makes Mitch and Simon’s mating that much sweeter. There’s not much angst outside Simon’s stubbornness, which is another great component. Character driven stories with lessons about intolerance are key characteristics of Cardeno C’s writing, and those can also be found in Mitch and Simon’s story.

Blue Mountain is a great story to a new series from Cardeno C, and I can’t wait for more.

A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

4 poison apples

Excerpt

As he kicked the last of the dirt over his mother’s grave, bone deep exhaustion nearly brought Simon Moorehead to his knees, but at least he’d delivered his mother home to rest. She had left Blue Mountain for him, and he had returned for her. There was a certain harmony in that, albeit an ironic one. But harmony or not, he had to leave the territory before another welcoming committee was dispatched to greet him. He darted his gaze around the surrounding landscape, looking for a flat rock to pound down the loose earth. Once he found an appropriate stone, he shifted into his human form, lifted it with both hands, and returned to the grave where he used the last of his energy to repeatedly raise and then slam down the rock, packing the soil.

“Stop.”

Shocked by the deep, rumbling voice, Simon lost his balance and toppled onto his backside. “Who’s there?” He held the stone in front of him like a weapon as he jerked his head from side to side and squinted, trying to see beyond the surrounding trees by the light of the moon.

“Relax, little one.”

He had his answer—it was a pack member who mistook his size for weakness. Well, Simon would prove him wrong just as he had the others. He’d been banished at age twelve and spent the next thirteen years learning how to take care of himself. Shifters underestimated him because they were led by scent and sight and refused to look beneath the surface. They didn’t expect an Omega to fight or disobey. But Simon had learned to act as strong as any Alpha. And if rejecting his true nature meant his soul suffered and withered, ultimately leading him to the same demise as his mother, so be it.

“Show yourself,” he demanded as he stood.

The direction of the wind changed, and Simon caught scent of the other shifter before he saw him. Alpha. The urge to bare his neck and roll over hit him deep in the gut. Forcing himself to ignore it, he mentally recited his mantra: Never show weakness. Stay in charge of every situation. Don’t back down. He wouldn’t be a slave to reactions he couldn’t control. He was better than that, stronger than that.

Then the biggest man he had ever seen stepped into the clearing. Broad was an understatement in describing his shoulders. He was almost twice as wide as Simon and well over half a foot taller. “Drop the rock,” he said, piercing Simon with black eyes.

Grateful for the reminder that he could use the tool as a weapon, Simon ignored the wetness dripping along his forearm, raised the rock above his head, and said, “Back away.”

A growl was Simon’s only warning before the Alpha grabbed his wrist and forced him to release his hold on the stone.

“Let me go!” Simon tried to yank his arm away from the powerful grip but strained his shoulder instead. He’d never come across anyone so large and powerful. The timing was terrible because Simon was already running on fumes, worn down soul-deep, but he gathered whatever energy he had left and tried to fight.

Grunting in denial, Simon struggled to get free. His backpack was a thirty minute hike away at the campsite. If he could shift and get there, he’d have his supplies and enough cash to get out of the Blue Mountain territory.

“Let me go, and I’ll leave,” he said. Then, his gut rebelling at the possibility the Alpha would consider that a concession on his part, he added, “Like I told the men you sent, I have no intention of staying here.” He wriggled. “Let me go.”

“I sent nobody.” The Alpha’s voice was deep and rough, like his face. “Be still.”

With a grip just shy of painful, he raised Simon’s hand, leaned forward, and nostrils flaring, he inhaled deeply.

“Males can be Omegas,” Simon resentfully answered the inevitable question. “It doesn’t make us weak.”

“Not weak.” Bottomless black eyes peered at him as the Alpha shocked him to his core by parting his lips and licking his palm. “Mine.”

Involuntarily, Simon trembled. The Alpha wanted blood—more blood than he was getting by lapping at Simon’s wounded hand, which meant he was feral, his animal half overrunning his human half and driving him to kill.

When the giant leaned forward, going for his jugular, Simon delivered a well-placed kick to the groin and then went limp, making himself dead weight. The strategy worked—the Alpha lost his grip and Simon toppled to the ground. Before his attacker could react, he scurried out of reach, shifted into his wolf, and ran.

Simon wasn’t a big wolf, but he was fast and he had a lifetime of experience evading other shifters. He ignored the instinct pulling at him to roll over and show his belly and wove around the trees at a breakneck pace, planning to do exactly what he’d done thirteen years earlier: take his meager belongings and escape from the Blue Mountain Alpha. But then a roar shook the very air around him, a big body knocked him to the ground, and teeth dug into his nape. Without breaking his skin, the Alpha shook him like a lamb and growled. Human words weren’t needed for the message to come through loud and clear: submit.

It wouldn’t happen. If Simon was going down, he’d do it fighting and inflicting as much damage as possible along the way. He kicked and bit, clawed and smacked, never getting free but occasionally hearing pained yips and eventually smelling copper.

As the scent of the Alpha’s blood permeated his entire being, Simon twisted in knots, waging an internal war between the cell-deep instinct to bare his throat to the wolf above him and the well-honed habit to fight and get free. When the world began darkening, he was less sad about the loss of his life than he was thankful for the reprieve from the battles—both external and internal. At least he’d be laid to rest with his mother.

Blue Mountain Fun Facts

You should have a snack at hand while reading Blue Mountain since food is one way Simon shows Mitch he cares for him.

Alphas do indeed get on their knees for Omegas!

Author Bio

Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few “awwws” into a reader’s day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno’s stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Cardeno’s Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, “You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day.”